Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[_Wim_]

This was the item I bought https://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/HP-8657A-Signal-Generator-100-kHz-2060-MHz-50-Reverse-Power-Protection-/382290889834?

In addition, it seems (but I don't want to open it up yet untill I hear from the seller) that the one I got has the OCXO option. At least it has a big "CALIBRATION VOID IF REMOVED" thing across the fine/coarse adjust of the OCXO option?

It appears to me that this is just not the one that they show in the pictures. It also has a bent front N connector.

I contacted the seller, will see what they have to say. I'm hoping I can get my money back, as I would have never bought this if it had this sticker on it. This really feels like a bait-n-switch type deal. Oh well...

I hope you have succes with the claim, this indeed is incorrect information in my opinion. Take plenty of pictures of the current state and stickers, to send them along with the claim.

[TheUnnamedNewbie]

This was the item I bought https://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/HP-8657A-Signal-Generator-100-kHz-2060-MHz-50-Reverse-Power-Protection-/382290889834?

In addition, it seems (but I don't want to open it up yet untill I hear from the seller) that the one I got has the OCXO option. At least it has a big "CALIBRATION VOID IF REMOVED" thing across the fine/coarse adjust of the OCXO option?

It appears to me that this is just not the one that they show in the pictures. It also has a bent front N connector.

I contacted the seller, will see what they have to say. I'm hoping I can get my money back, as I would have never bought this if it had this sticker on it. This really feels like a bait-n-switch type deal. Oh well...

I hope you have succes with the claim, this indeed is incorrect information in my opinion. Take plenty of pictures of the current state and stickers, to send them along with the claim.

I have gotten my money back, full refund. Unfortunately that still leaves me 96.93 EUR import out, but hey, I am not going to complain. From first measurements, it seems like the output power is lower than indicated. This could be what the person doing cal was referring to when labling the unit as "CALIBRATION REJECT", perhaps the output amplifiers voltage rails or sagging or it has lost some transconductance with age. I need a spectrum analyzer to really verify this, and a calibrated counter to measure the frequency correctly. It seems to be on pretty well, only a few part per million off compared to my other generator that was called in 2016 so... (this one also has a call sticker from 2016, so if it really was just rejected for the output power levels, I guess that means the frequency is also gonna be pretty spot on).

For now, I'm just happy with the unit as is, and will happily accept the refund even if it means I ended up spending the 96 EUR import. Doesn't come with the OCXO timebase.

The seller was very quick in responding so I guess they aren't just evil.

[bd139]

You did ok out of that. I’d pay 100€ for one in that state. Seller might just be a dumbass. Some of them have absolutely no idea what they are selling. Hence why I paid only £5 for my Marconi 2019A.

Might be attenuators. On my 2019A before it exploded, one of the attenuators wouldn’t switch out. This gave it a low output power reading. Then I blew up the power sensor so zero RF kit now

On the market for a new SG now as well. Rigol doesn’t cut it - 25MHz top whack and only goes down to -50dBm which means I have to piss around with external attenuators to test the front end on the kit I’m designing. HP would have probably cost about the same as well.

Really need an SA too. There is no such thing as a bargain in U.K. 

[djos]

I suppose you could always take a file to the tip and take a tiny bit off on each side, but not to much and then keep it well tinned.

Unfortunately I think that would result in a useless tip which could never be re-tinned. 

I don't think it would do as I used to have to use a massive iron like the one in the picture below (125-150W) during my apprenticeship and to get nice edge on it we were always filing away at it with big engineers files and we had that iron for many years. In fact it was there when I started and was still there and working when I left 10 years later.

Anyway, the cost of these T12 tips from China is so small that I'd be inclined to give it a go and see if you can replicate the tip that you like, its not going to leave a massive hole in your pocket if it fails is it.

Iirc, those old irons where Iron, modern tips are usually copper underneath the coating ... or at least the last one I tried to file was. 

That said, I dont like the tip anyway so I have nothing to lose by trying it ... I do have some re-tinning compound so see what happens eh. 

[Specmaster]

I suppose you could always take a file to the tip and take a tiny bit off on each side, but not to much and then keep it well tinned.

Unfortunately I think that would result in a useless tip which could never be re-tinned. 

I don't think it would do as I used to have to use a massive iron like the one in the picture below (125-150W) during my apprenticeship and to get nice edge on it we were always filing away at it with big engineers files and we had that iron for many years. In fact it was there when I started and was still there and working when I left 10 years later.

Anyway, the cost of these T12 tips from China is so small that I'd be inclined to give it a go and see if you can replicate the tip that you like, its not going to leave a massive hole in your pocket if it fails is it.

Iirc, those old irons where Iron, modern tips are usually copper underneath the coating ... or at least the last one I tried to file was. 

That said, I dont like the tip anyway so I have nothing to lose by trying it ... I do have some re-tinning compound so see what happens eh. 

That's the spirit, give a file and see.

The old tips, or at least on the one I used was solid copper, had to keep it tinned.

[bd139]

Every copper tip I’ve ever seen wears out ridiculously quick. I actually used the same tip between 1993-2003 nearly every day on my old weller as a counterexample.

[Specmaster]

 Well it was a ridiculously large tip, about 1.5" long by 1" wide and .5" thick and admittedly it didn't get used too often as most of my soldering back then was done with oxyacetylene bottles replacing corroded battery terminals on .75" dia copper leads while I was working on Eastern National busses for a living.

[bd139]

I think that’s blacksmthery not soldering 

[Specmaster]

Could be thought of in that way I suppose... Used to welding and brazing as well, strangely enough I also rewired a blacksmiths shop in my spare time back then.

[Specmaster]

Getting some more TEA budget built up, picked up a Bose Sound Dock yesterday on Freecycle, supposed to be not working. It was in a filthy state though, cleaned it up a bit ready to crack the sucker open, but decided to do the obvious first and checked the power adaptor (20v) it was fine, plugged it in, plugged in my Ipod Touch, and away she went, works perfectly OK, been running all day today no problems, just looking for remote for it now and then later on it'll be on Ebay. Should be worth a bit too, its the portable one with built in battery which also works fine, pop the TF930 on as well, with a bit of luck ought to raise £200 or more?

[mnementh]

I think you're being a bit optimistic; even the Series III are only bringing US$225-235 on Amazon and less on fleaBay. Earlier versions are bringing much less. Run it through several charge-discharge cycles at high to moderately-high volume; the run time may have severely shortened and that's why it wound up at there.





Interesting you're engaged in such pursuit just now; last few days my "back burner" project has been modding an Altec-Lansing IM9 sound dock. They were one of the best sounding portables of the clickwheel generation, but alas fell by the wayside when fApple dropped FireWire and switched over to USB.




I picked one up for $4 last week at a local Thrift Outlet; I'm in the process of converting it so it'll charge more modern USB-generation iPods (I have a handful of 4th & 5th Gen Nanos I keep around because they're so blamed handy), and upgrading from 6V NiMh power to 2 7.4V 18650 cells. Planning to drop in an A2DP host module to really future-proof the old beast.   I'll probably leave the grill off until I get the BT module installed.

Directly underneath you can see my current project; triaging my favorite instant-read meat thermometer after it became the latest victim of my daughter being a baby Diva. I dropped everything when I heard her wailing at the top of her lungs like a stuck piglet; turns out she was mad at brother for not giving up his fidget spinner. Never mind that I had gotten her one at the same time as he got his, and she had it IN HER HAND... 

So I go back to cooking dinner, and  I'm looking all around for ol' yellow there so I can  check the pork chops; a couple minutes later I catch the old hot polymer smell... yup, I'd left it stabbed in a chop when I went running to save my daughter's life.      


mnem

[djos]

Getting some more TEA budget built up, picked up a Bose Sound Dock yesterday on Freecycle, supposed to be not working. It was in a filthy state though, cleaned it up a bit ready to crack the sucker open, but decided to do the obvious first and checked the power adaptor (20v) it was fine, plugged it in, plugged in my Ipod Touch, and away she went, works perfectly OK, been running all day today no problems, just looking for remote for it now and then later on it'll be on Ebay. Should be worth a bit too, its the portable one with built in battery which also works fine, pop the TF930 on as well, with a bit of luck ought to raise £200 or more?

It's always amazed me how something so poorly engineered and cheaply put together can fetch such a high price! I used to sell HT systems for fun on weekends at my local BigPicture store and the profit on Bose and the Aesthetics were the only reasons we sold them. The WAF was huge but the sound quality was ordinary as they relied on DSP tricks to fill in the HUGE mid-range hole that was missing in their tiny speakers + Sub designs (Lifestyle range). Bose were so lazy they took nearly 2 years to add HDMI to their LifeStyle range and cost themselves many sales. We pulled some defective systems apart before sending them back once and found that the heft to them was provided by lead weights in the base of all the items! 

[sreeb]

Box with HP 8657A just arrived. Not of to a good start.

Was sold as "just not able to test it but powers on". I receive it and it has a massive sticker on the top "CALIBRATION REJECT - FAILS MULTIPLE TESTS - NEEDS REPAIR".

I hope it actually works but otherwise I don't know what to do with this. I mean, clearly this is not in the condition they stated it would be in? I think I have a right to complain to ebay about this?

How was the condition listed on eBay?

This was the item I bought https://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/HP-8657A-Signal-Generator-100-kHz-2060-MHz-50-Reverse-Power-Protection-/382290889834?

In addition, it seems (but I don't want to open it up yet untill I hear from the seller) that the one I got has the OCXO option. At least it has a big "CALIBRATION VOID IF REMOVED" thing across the fine/coarse adjust of the OCXO option?

It appears to me that this is just not the one that they show in the pictures. It also has a bent front N connector.

I contacted the seller, will see what they have to say. I'm hoping I can get my money back, as I would have never bought this if it had this sticker on it. This really feels like a bait-n-switch type deal. Oh well...

If I'm reading that auction page correctly, they had more than one unit for sale?  It appears that they took pics of the best and sent you one of the others.  I think I'd be inclined to fight it if I were you, especially given the bent output connector.  That's physical damage beyond 'not able to test but powers up' IMO.

As to the high stability time base, if it has one there should be a sticker on the back somewhere (usually near the s/n sticker) that says 'Option 001’.  That is the more accurate oscillator option.

Ohe good thing if you get a satisfactory refund and are allowed to keep it is that there is a fairly legible PDF scan of the service manual on the Keysight website.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

-Pat

I also bought one of the 3.  Mine seems fully functional although I haven't run through the cal procedure.

It is in nice cosmetic shape aside from a slightly bent output.  The outputs are long and in a vulnerable position.  I still see these at businesses and the bent output is common.

It is also cheaper on the ebay.com website.  Buy it now for $249.99 and they took my $200 make offer.

Used test equipment is always a crap shoot...

[Cubdriver]

Used test equipment is always a crap shoot...

   Now THERE'S an understatement if ever there was one!  You are correct, it is definitely a roll of the dice, and I never expect anything to work.  The way I look at it is this - an optimist is frequently disappointed, whereas a pessimist is often pleasantly surprised.

-Pat

[xrunner]

  Now THERE'S an understatement if ever there was one!  You are correct, it is definitely a roll of the dice, and I never expect anything to work. 

It works the other way too. I've bought items listed as "not working" on purpose, because I wanted a challenge to fix. In that case it's very disappointing to find that when you get it - it works just fine. I'm like "What the hell am I supposed to do with this now?" 

[mnementh]

Used test equipment is always a crap shoot...

   Now THERE'S an understatement if ever there was one!  You are correct, it is definitely a roll of the dice, and I never expect anything to work.  The way I look at it is this - an optimist is frequently disappointed, whereas a pessimist is often pleasantly surprised.

-Pat

"Ever since I gave up hope, I'm much better off. I used to be constantly disgusted; now I'm merely amused."


mnem
Pants are highly overrated.

[Mr. Scram]

"Ever since I gave up hope, I'm much better off. I used to be constantly disgusted; now I'm merely amused."


mnem
Pants are highly overrated.

Nihilism is bliss.

[Cubdriver]

  Now THERE'S an understatement if ever there was one!  You are correct, it is definitely a roll of the dice, and I never expect anything to work. 

It works the other way too. I've bought items listed as "not working" on purpose, because I wanted a challenge to fix. In that case it's very disappointing to find that when you get it - it works just fine. I'm like "What the hell am I supposed to do with this now?" 

Well, that there is Mr. Murphy at his work.  He controls traffic lights, too - if you have to take a leak, each one will turn red as you approach.  Get a text message on your phone that you want to glance at?  You'll get nothing but green lights almost without fail.   

-Pat

[Cubdriver]

  Now THERE'S an understatement if ever there was one!  You are correct, it is definitely a roll of the dice, and I never expect anything to work. 

It works the other way too. I've bought items listed as "not working" on purpose, because I wanted a challenge to fix. In that case it's very disappointing to find that when you get it - it works just fine. I'm like "What the hell am I supposed to do with this now?" 

Oh, and as for what to do with it - umm, I dunno, maybe use it for whatever its original purpose was?   

-Pat

[xrunner]

Oh, and as for what to do with it - umm, I dunno, maybe use it for whatever its original purpose was?   

Oh yea I guess I could. 

[bitseeker]

  Now THERE'S an understatement if ever there was one!  You are correct, it is definitely a roll of the dice, and I never expect anything to work. 

It works the other way too. I've bought items listed as "not working" on purpose, because I wanted a challenge to fix. In that case it's very disappointing to find that when you get it - it works just fine. I'm like "What the hell am I supposed to do with this now?" 

Let me know the next time that happens. Perhaps I can help you out of the conundrum. Then, you'll be able to try for something more challenging.

[xrunner]

Let me know the next time that happens. Perhaps I can help you out of the conundrum. Then, you'll be able to try for something more challenging.

Can do, can do ... 

[gnavigator1007]

  Now THERE'S an understatement if ever there was one!  You are correct, it is definitely a roll of the dice, and I never expect anything to work. 

It works the other way too. I've bought items listed as "not working" on purpose, because I wanted a challenge to fix. In that case it's very disappointing to find that when you get it - it works just fine. I'm like "What the hell am I supposed to do with this now?" 

This has happened to me so many times lately! I swear if it happens once more I'll file a claim for 'item not as described" 

[xrunner]

This has happened to me so many times lately! I swear if it happens once more I'll file a claim for 'item not as described" 

I know right?

Send them a message before buying "Have you checked to make sure the fuse isn't missing? Please realize: I'm going to pay good money for a non-working unit!" 

[gnavigator1007]

I'm to the point I'm more excited seeing a package has taken a bit of abuse. I'm buying all this supposedly "not working" stuff as a learning opportunity & to test my skills dammit. I'm being robbed of an education over here. Suspect the next thing I need to work out of the box is probably going to show up on fire now that I'm formally complaining